Catch of the day: fisherman claims $1 million Lotto win

An avid fisherman from Northampton has come forward to claim $1 million in prize money from last week’s Monday Lotto draw.

The winning ticket was purchased at Northampton News and contributes to the 49th Division 1 win for Western Australia this year.

The 51-year-old ex-labourer said it took him over eight hours to drive from Northampton to Lotterywest HQ to claim his prize money.

“Mate, I drove pretty bloody carefully to get here because of the precious cargo I had tucked away in my back pocket,” he said as he produced his winning ticket.

The man said as well as sharing his win with his mother and sister, he’d be splashing out a few bucks on his favourite hobby.

“My friends hate taking me out on their boats as I always catch the biggest fish,” he said.

“With a million bucks in my back pocket I can buy my own tinny now,” he laughed.

Lotterywest spokeswoman Chloe Lawler said players had another chance to win big with tonight’s $30 million Powerball jackpot only hours away.

“To celebrate WA’s 50th Division 1 winner by taking out tonight’s Powerball jackpot would be the icing on the cake for the State,” Ms Lawler said.

“In 2017, Division 1 winners in WA have shared in over $105 million in prize money,” she said.

It’s expected almost 350,000 tickets will be sold in the lead up to tonight’s jackpot with Lotterywest retailers expected to churn out more than 335 tickets per minute between 4 and 5pm this afternoon.

Tonight’s jackpot is also expected to generate around $1.6 million for the WA community.

Players have until 6pm this evening to purchase tickets from Lotterywest in-store, via Play Online or by downloading the app.